Alex was pondering what to pack for her night out (only getting as far as bottle of water) when there was a knock at her bedroom door and big brother shuffled in, hands in pockets and sheepish. She kicked her backpack under the bed and began to put on the smile, then noticed his expression and dropped it. It was her brother, she didn’t have to hide.
“Yeah, another day, another way to be embarrassed, right?”
“Uh, yeah, same as…” Al half-smiled then dropped it too. “Look, I just wanted to check on you, before… before it all kicks off.” He looked down at the floor and saw the pack and bottle of water peeking out from under the bed. He nodded. “Yeah I thought so. You’re going to run aren’t you?”
Alex grimaced, attempting comedy quizzical and shrugged her shoulders. “What makes you say that?”
Al smiled. “Oh, I dunno, because you’re my twin sister and we’ve known each other all our lives. Because… I know you don’t… even if we’re not as close anymore, like we used to be…”
Alex smiled. “Different circles…”
“Yeah, all part of growing up I guess. But I do still care about you. I know you Alex, we have a bond… we always have, always will…” He paused and straightened. “Look, I’ll support you in whatever you want to do. You may not have said it out loud, but I just know you aren’t as up for the lambing like others around here are.”
Alex clicked her teeth. “Because it’s a goddamned rape-a-thon, is what it is.”
His temples furrowed, fathoming her words. “It’s a ra… what? Is that even a thing.” He shook his head and sighed. “You know you curse a lot for a girl?”
“You don’t curse enough for a boy.”
They looked at each other and laughed. “Yeah, mebbe I’m the shy one after all,” he said. He put his hand on her shoulder. “I just want you to know, I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, you got to know that right? I’m here, it’s my job to look after you.” Feeling his strong grip, just for a moment, for the first time in a long time, Alex didn’t feel quite so alone anymore. They looked at each other and felt like brother and sister again.
The bell rang downstairs and reminded them what time it was. The first of the gentlemen callers was at the door. Mom called up the stairs. “Hey guys, you have guests.”
“Okay, I can cover for you, but I’m not gonna be able to hold them off for long,” said Al. “If you’re gonna go, you’ve gotta go right now.”
The lambing was about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED
The third chapter of Lambing will be released on Wednesday 8th April.
Hove Press 